College Books Discarded: The Controversial Dumping of LGBTQ-Friendly Literature

College Outrage: The Book Dumping Incident

On a quiet Tuesday afternoon in August, just a week before students were due to return to campus, the administration of New College of Florida made a *controversial* move by removing LGBTQ-friendly books from their Gender and Diversity Center and disposing of them in a dumpster. This decision soon extended to books from the main library, also focusing heavily on important topics related to religion and LGBTQ+ issues.

Administration's Justification and Public Response

According to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, New College claimed it could not legally donate or sell the books, a claim that has been challenged as misleading. In truth, the institution could have facilitated sales or transfers of the books, ensuring the sales were open to the public. Historically, students were notified in advance during similar situations, allowing them to claim old books; this time, however, students reported feeling blindsided and uninformed.

Impact on Students and Future Actions

The *book purge* occurred in the summer, well before students returned to campus, which has raised alarms about *transparency* and *student engagement*. As the majority of the books vanished into a landfill, many students expressed dismay over what they perceive as a denial of educational resources essential to fostering an inclusive campus environment. Voices from the student body have begun calling for accountability and a reevaluation of the policies governing library resources.